Provocative, Startling, and Upsetting Statements

By Ginger Melchor

What is this strategy?

A teacher would use this to engage students in a new topic. The teacher will pose a question or give a command that will startle or upset students. The purpose is to get students interested in the topic and give their opinions. Why did it startle you? Why does what I said make you upset?

Examples:

Today we are going to hold an election in class, but only the girls can vote.

I prefer the class next door, so after lunch we will gather our things and go over there to take over that room.

What do you do when you encounter someone who look, sounds and even smells differently then you do?

How to implement:

Allow class to react, and then point out reactions

Simple role-play

Quickwrite

Smallgroup discussion

Pros of Strategy:

Engagement in new subject with even knowing

Insight to how people may feel in a real situation

Whole class participation

Cons of Strategy:

Angry parents if the child says for example that the teacher would not let him vote because he is a boy

Arguing between classmates as whether discrimination is fair

Offended students because of teacher choice in scenarios